By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — Being standouts in both of their respective sports, Ruston High seniors Harper Cauley and Jordan Hayes signed to play at the collegiate level on Tuesday with Harper headed to Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., for volleyball and Hayes going to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.
The senior athletes signed alongside their families in a morning ceremony in front of a packed gym of students and friends.
Harper’s mother Mandy was her head coach for the past two seasons at Ruston High and played college volleyball for Louisiana Tech. She said she was proud of Harper for carving her own path and making her own story at Northwestern State.
”It’s an incredibly special moment,” Mandy said. “Special as both mom and coach. I’m just really proud of her. It’s a happy day, and it’s just the culminating moment of all her hard work and sacrifices. She has really believed in herself. I’m really proud of her for sticking it out and believing in herself and believing that she could accomplish her goal, which was to play at a D-1 university.”
Cauley chose Northwestern State because of the team atmosphere and plans to study criminal justice or business with a minor in psychology.
“When I went to visit, it was a very home feeling — it was like I was in Ruston again,” Harper said. “It was a small town. And the girls on the team were sweet and welcoming. They didn’t have to be told to come over and talk to me and make me feel welcome. It was very nice, and it just feels like the right place.”
Ruston High head football coach Jerrod Baugh celebrated Hayes and all the student athletes from Ruston High that are going on to play at the collegiate level.
”It’s always special for our athletes to use their athletic ability to give themselves that opportunity,” Baugh said. “We’re very proud of them, and Jordan, in particular, on the football side. I’ve known him a long time and coached him since the sixth grade. We’ve developed a really close relationship. It’s just like one of my own going on and having an opportunity to play college ball.”
For Hayes, Blinn College was the right choice because he believes he will be able to contribute right away on offense. Hayes plans to study business.
”Blinn is the perfect fit for me,” Hayes said. “When I went down, they told me I’d be starting my first year, so it motivated me to go down there and take care of my business.”
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